Postdoctoral Researcher in Bioinformatics and Human Tissue Modelling

About the Role

Join the innovative research team within the Department of Oncology at the University of Oxford as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Bioinformatics and Human Tissue Modelling. This exciting position sits at the forefront of translational cancer research, focusing on characterising patient-derived oesophageal, pancreatic, and colorectal tissues collected through prospectively approved clinical trials, and developing personalised models to understand therapy response characteristics.

You will contribute to a pioneering tissue-focused research programme aimed at enhancing cure rates for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Working within the O’Neill lab, you will play a central role in the collection, processing, maintenance, and characterisation of tumour and blood samples using a perfused culture system. This work will support the validation of therapeutic targets emerging from clinical studies, contribute to early detection and monitoring research, and integrate with multidisciplinary surgical and oncology teams.

This post forms part of INTREPID (IN vitro TumouR Explant models for evaluating cancer complexity and Patient Diversity), a major £15.9 million joint investment by the MRC, Wellcome, and Innovate UK to advance highly reproducible human in vitro models. These systems combine patient tissue with microfluidic technologies to recapitulate tissue structure and function while reducing reliance on animal models, supporting the UK Government’s strategy for replacing animals in science.

You will be primarily based in the Old Road Campus Research Building, with responsibilities extending to human tissue retrieval at the Churchill Hospital. As a key member of the O’Neill group, you will collaborate closely with Oxford surgical research teams—Jones (Pancreas), Owen (Oesophageal), and Buczacki (Colorectal)—as well as partners across the INTREPID consortium and industry.

This is a full-time post, fixed-term for 2 years in the first instance.

About You

You will be an enthusiastic, highly motivated researcher with a PhD/DPhil (or near completion) in a relevant discipline such as biomedical sciences, tumour immunology, molecular biology, cancer biology, or computational bioinformatics. You will have experience in molecular and cellular biology techniques and human tissue handling, and be confident working in a laboratory setting involving complex biological samples.

You will bring experience or interest in bioinformatics approaches such as single-cell or spatial transcriptomics, tumour cell atlas analysis, immunological profiling, or ctDNA/metabolomic analysis. You should be comfortable managing your own research project, adapting and developing experimental protocols, analysing complex datasets, and contributing to publications, grant proposals, and scientific presentations.

Your strong communication skills will enable you to work effectively with clinicians, researchers, and collaborators across multiple disciplines. You will enjoy working both independently and as part of a wider team, and will be committed to maintaining high standards of organisation, documentation, and laboratory practice. A willingness to handle human tissue samples and contribute to sample tracking, processing, imaging, and 3D tissue model establishment will be essential to the role.

Application Process

If you would like to discuss this role, please contact Prof Eric O’Neill at eric.oneill@onccology.ox.ac.uk.

Applications should be made online. You will be required to upload:

• A supporting statement outlining how you meet the selection criteria
• A curriculum vitae
• Names and contact details of two referees

Only applications received before noon on Friday, 6th February 2026 can be considered. 

What We Offer

As an employer, the University of Oxford is committed to the wellbeing and development of its staff. Benefits include:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days of annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
• Membership of a variety of social and sports clubs

The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being a place where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission.